4 Ways To Get Cheap Moving Services In Singapore

Starting a new life as a freshly hired expat or a newlywed couple encourages a new chapter of moving into your new nest. That’s not all, upgrading or downgrading of offices can encourage a relocation plan too. These transitions show that it is important to find efficient moving services at affordable prices. Is that possible in Singapore? Yes it is! Here are the 4 Ways To Get Cheap Moving Services In Singapore…

1. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL MOVING SERVICE

Number 1 may be costly compared to the other ways in this list but it is proven to be the most convenient. Professional movers will not only load your items but they can also pack it for you. In order to get the cheapest option, you must compare the professional moving services available in the market. Take advantage of the free quotations and the current promotions. The average price range of these services is from S$40-100.

Here are some of the moving services dedicated to bring professionalism with the best rates:

a. RENTALORRY 

With authentic high ratings on their Facebook page, Rentalorry Singapore is a transportation and moving company that hires only professional movers for your common house moves or office moves. Their movers also specialize in plants moving and international moves. Rentalorry invests heavily in providing awesome customer service, so liaising and getting free quotations from them will be smooth and hassle free!

Contact +65 6715 1507 or visit rentalorrysingapore.com

b. SHALOM MOVERS

Aiming to provide reliable and fuss-free moving services, Shalom Movers at Kaki Bukit Road, provide several services such as residential moving, office moving, express delivery, and international moving.

Contact +65 6287 6117 or visit shalom.com.sg

2. HAIL A CAB

If you were only moving a certain amount of items (i.e., 2-4 boxes) then, hiring a cab would do the trick. If you are relocating to a relatively short distance then, the ride will only cost you about S$8-15. Here is a comprehensive list of Singapore Taxi services complete with contact numbers and booking fees: taxisingapore.com.

3. RIDE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

One of the cheapest ways to move your items from Point A to Point B is to carry it via MRT or Bus. Although, this can be less convenient as security check guards may want to check your items first. Nonetheless, Singapore’s efficient public transportation will get you there on time.

4. SEEK HELP FROM A FRIEND

If you have a kind-hearted friend that is willing to help you move your stuff by using his or her car then, you are the luckiest of all. A good friend who is willing to make a few rides back and forth without anything in return is a friend for keeps. Give back by cooking a lovely meal for two in your new home.

Image Credits: Alpha via Flickr

Image Credits: Alpha via Flickr

* Update 29 Sep 16: An earlier version of this article includes 3 professional moving services, of which 2 are no longer in operation. We have added Rentalorry which provide a large fleet of transportation vehicles at competitive rate

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Budget-Friendly Ways To Build Your Dream Home Office

If you are waving goodbye to the office life and venturing to the exciting world of freelance or self-employment, you will find yourself in need of a home office. Luckily, due to modern technology, building a home office is easier than ever before. Here are some budget-friendly ways you can start with…

1. DO IT YOURSELF

Instead of hiring an interior designer or other professionals, decorate your office by yourself. You have the freedom to choose your working space. Be creative, as your imagination knows no bounds. For example, you may hang inspiring posters or family photos to motivate you everyday.

2. USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE

Recycle and repurpose your old furniture or decorative materials. Buried in your attic or closets are useful yet forgotten things such as lamps, chairs, or notebooks. Seek for these things. Then, reinvent these forgotten treasures by fixing and painting on them. Not only did you save more money but you also saved Mother Earth. 🙂

If purchasing for other items is necessary, consider to…

3. PURCHASE FURNITURE ONLINE

Looking for stylish yet inexpensive furniture? Then, GROUPON.sg is the website for you! They currently offer a wide selection of discounted furniture but, here are some of my top picks:

a. The classically beautiful Funika 3-Tier 2-Tone Reversible Bookcase priced at S$25.90 (38% off). Available here.

b. The assorted colors of Bolton Swivel Chair with Armrest priced at S$79 (47% off). Available here.

c. The space-saving Set of 2 Folding Chairs priced at $29.90 (30% off). Available here.

d. The maple colored 2-Tier Desk priced at S$59 (54% off). Available here.

4. BARGAIN AT THE FLEA MARKETS

It is possible to buy unique yet affordable pieces of electronics, rags, stationery, paintings, and furniture at Singapore’s flea markets and thrift shops. Some of the known fleas include MAAD (Market of Artists and Designers), Zouk Flea & Easy, and China Square Central Sunday Flea Market.

Related Article: Score Great Deals At Flea Markets In Just 5 Steps

5. LASTLY, SHOP DURING SALES

To save more money, list down everything that you need for your home office. Then, buy these items one by one once the sale comes up. It is okay to take your time in building up your ideal haven since you are the master of your own time. One of the large-scale brand that offer quality products at low prices is IKEA Singapore. And, they occasionally have special product offers. For example, you may add a tampered glass VITTSJÖ laptop support to your home office for only S$19.90 (U.P. S$39.90).

Image Credits: Jeremy Levine via Flickr

Image Credits: Jeremy Levine via Flickr

Building your own home office may take time, money, and effort but, once you found something you truly love (whether it be blogging or web designing), all of these will be well worth it. 🙂

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The Hippest Food Places In Singapore, Serving Under S$30

Hipster, a sub-culture in today’s society, exhibits appreciation for freedom, creativity, and wit. Thus, hipster places exude a youthful vibe that opposes the status quo. A modern spin on things results to the cultural experimentation of dishes. Where exactly are these hip food places located? Well, they are all over Singapore. In hawker centers, inside the malls, and more. With these myriad of choices, here are the best ones that serve dishes under S$30…

1. PERCOLATE

Located in the Bedok area, is a humble cafe opened by a few friends. The place is simple, cozy, and beautifully decorated that is why it brings a relaxing ambiance to its customers. Prices are budget-friendly with an average price of S$10. A 5-oz of white will only cost you S$4.50 while a yummy Smoked Salmon with Wasabi Cream Sandwich will cost you S$9. Good prices offering delectable dishes…who am I to complain?

Location: 136 Bedok North Avenue 3, #01-152B Singapore 460136

2. IMMANUEL FRENCH KITCHEN

Have you ever eaten fine French cuisine in a “Kopitiam” setting? If not then, you have not taste the media acclaimed: Immanuel French Kitchen. A brainchild of Chef Immanuel Tee, this food stall serves restaurant quality dishes using only the finest dining techniques such as espumas and braising. At a an affordable price, Immanuel French Kitchen dishes are priced at S$18 on the average. People have only good things to say with their Duck Confit. While a hip Miso Foi Gras (S$16.50) was made with fusing Japanese cuisine elements.

Location: Blk 119, Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 151119

3. TWO WINGS

The unique thing about Two Wings is that the owner Jeremy Loh used their original family recipe that have been passed down to each succeeding generations since 1970. Their amazing Crispy Wings that are imported from Brazil will cost you S$8.50 for 4 pieces and S$24 for 12. A true must-try considering the inexpensive prices and the glorious crunch of each wing. If you are a health-conscious individual, fear not. They offer Fresh Cut Salad for only S$3 and you can choose between balsamic vinaigrette or honey mustard dressing.

Location: 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 151119

4. FIX

Fix Cafe is a poolside cafe located at the Balestier area. Sounds like a cool place doesn’t it? You are correct! The place is youthful and appealing that even most of the customers are young. A notable modern take on their menu is their naans. Instead of using the traditional wrap, they used naan in making dishes like Chicken Tikka Naanwich (S$11) and Beef & Kimchi Naanwich (S$11). For dessert lovers, you must order the Butterscotch Arabica Choux (S$6) or the Strawberry Pistachio Rose Tart (S$6). Surely, Fix is a place for affordable and delicious pastries, grilled sandwiches, and artisan coffee.

Image Credits: www.facebook.com/FIXsg

Image Credits: www.facebook.com/FIXsg

Location: HomeTeam NS-JOM Clubhouse, 31 Ah Hood Road Singapore 329979

5. STEW KÜCHE

If you think that European dishes are only served in “Atas” restaurants then, you have got one thing wrong. Located in a busy kopitiam is a stall that fuses Swiss-German and Italian cuisine. With their scrumptious feasts prepared in a very experienced way, it is surprising that their prices are under S$30! It is recommeded that you try their special dishes such as the Paprika Beef Goulash (S$15.50) and the wide array of sausages (priced from S$6.90). They also sell a broad selection of craft beers for all the beer lovers out there.

Location: 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 151119

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Save Up to 50% Every Time You Shop at Amazon

Amazon Shopping

Yusho Liu, co-founder of CoinHako.com, dishes out the dirt on how to save money at the world’s largest online retail store.

Let’s get real. Amazon is a wonderland of everything I’ve ever wanted to buy — or didn’t know I needed until they suggested it. With a huge selection of goods being sold at competitive pricing — not to mention, their remarkable 2-day delivery — it was my go-to place for everything during my time in Silicon Valley — except for my sneakers.

So while I was in Silicon Valley attending Boost VC’s accelerator program, I chanced upon this dubious(initially) site that was offering 20% off Amazon — www.purse.io

Purse.io is a San Francisco based startup. Their investors include prominent members in the Bitcoin ecosystem, as well as several well known Silicon Valley funds.

As seen in the screenshot, Purse.io allows holders of Bitcoin to exchange Amazon credits with gift card owners through Purse’s escrow platform. I followed up with some due diligence to check the legitimacy of their platform and decided to give this a shot. I ordered a bottle of fish oil. Sure enough, I received my omega 3 caps and saved about a buck doing so.

Fast forward 3 months and I’m back in sunny Singapore settling down, where I’m busy getting operations started for my own startup — CoinHako. We make Bitcoin easy and accessible.

“Not having 2-day shipping stinks. I know. But maybe learning to save significantly on your Amazon purchases when in Singapore will make it stink less.”

1. Pick your items and place them in your wishlist

I’m sure you’ve been itching to get that latest book on pandas playing chess with gremlins right — because Amazon is Amazin.

2. Sign up for an account at Purse.io

It doesn’t take you more than 30 seconds for this step.

3. Import your Amazon Wishlist into Purse.io

Click on “Spend BTC” and import your wishlist by pasting the URL directly into the field. Click “Import” and a pop up box will appear as shown below. Follow the steps and click “Done”

4. Pick your discount and note down the total amount of Bitcoin (mBTC) required to make the purchase.

It seems like Purse has tiered the discounts based on total spending. This simply means that the more you order via Purse, the more discounts you get.. (UP TO 50%) This should be largely beneficial to people who conduct Mass Orders.

Remember to note down the amount of milli-Bitcoin you will have to purchase. In this case, 503 mBTC = 0.503 BTC

Do note that my receiving address is in Dayton, OH, which is my freight forwarder’s office. The major players in Singapore are Borderlinx, Vpost, Comgateway, 65daigou etc.

5. Create an account at your freight forwarder.

This will give you a local US address to ship to. If you are not too certain on how to use these services, there are instructions on their website.

6. Buy sufficient Bitcoin and place your order.

If you have a Singaporean bank account, head over to CoinHako.com and purchase just enough bitcoins for the purchase. I personally recommend buying a little more in case the price fluctuates. If you do not know how to purchase Bitcoin, please head over here.

Once the coins are in your wallet, send the coins out to YOUR designated wallet address.

My designated wallet address. Purse.io recommends 8% market buffer

7. Wait for transaction to be completed.

It will typically take about 30minutes for the transaction to be confirmed by the network. Once that is done, just wait till it arrives at your transit facility.

Now that you have completed your transaction for 0.503 BTC….

Let’s see how much money Purse & Bitcoin can save YOU.

 Assuming that freight charges leaving Borderlinx is constant, I did some math for regular checkout (via Mastercard), and Purse.io

1. Cost via Mastercard

Based on Amazon’s rates, the total for both items:

USD163 = SGD231.03

2. Cost via Bitcoin @ 20% discount

0.503 BTC @ CoinHako’s rates:

~SGD180

Smart Nation Shopping, this is.

Imagine saving up to $200 for a $1000 purchase.

 (Article contributed by Yusho Liu, founder of CoinHako)

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How And Why You Should Start An Online Business Now

Have you been wanting to start your own business but your intended capital would not suffice? Or maybe the thought of leaving your children at home prevents you? Well, that shipped has sailed when people from the Silicon Valley introduced the “Online Business”. Online business (OB) allow you to sell your product or service at the convenience of your own home and your own time.

Here are the other reasons why you should open your own OB now:

1. SPEND LOW COSTS ON THE START-UP

Once you settled the costs of the products or services that you are planning to sell, you can start opening an OB for S$15.48 or free! The S$15.48 only applies if you want your own website domain name. For example instead of having “myshopname.blogspot.com” you can have “myshopname.com” to appear more professional. Go Daddy sells the website’s domain name at S$15.48 for the first year.

2. WORK ON THE PROJECTS YOU LOVE

Not only do you get to explore your interests and hobbies when thinking of a business idea, you also get to work on something you are really passionate about. This will motivate you to improve your business even more.

3. GET BROADER NETWORK OF POTENTIAL CLIENTS

Since you are setting up a business in the Internet where anyone from anywhere can have an access, you gain a wider scope of clients. This will allow you to transact and ship worldwide.

Sold by the idea of an OB? Here is how you can start yours:

1. DO RESEARCH

Know what is available on the market today. See something that interests you? Incorporate that and add something unique. This will be your niche. Also, research on marketing ideas and budget plans by asking your family, colleagues, friends, or even Google.

2. DEVISE YOUR BUSINESS TYPE AND GOALS

Choose the business you would like to start by tapping into your interests, time availability, and accessible funds. Set goals not just for the business but also for your budget plans.

3. FINALIZE YOUR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES

There are a few products that you can sell at a low cost such as essence oils, Ebooks, and stationary. Given that you have sufficient knowledge of Web Designing, you can sell your services online and charge per project.

4. START OPENING YOUR STORE

If you want to set up an online store without spending a dollar, try selling your products and services on either tictail.com or carousell.com. Tictail.com, established in 2012, allows its users to run a nice online store in minutes. Carousell.com, on the otehr hand, allows its users to sell through its mobile App. Both are definitely free and easy to use! Say you are in need of new materials, you may save money by buying bargain items at these websites too.

5. PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS

To promote your business, you will need to have visibility in various social media websites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The good news is that it is totally free to open your accounts in these websites. Also, you can set up a newsletter or a mailing list so people can receive regular updates when promotions or new items are coming up.

Image Credits: springwools via Flickr

Image Credits: springwools via Flickr

As you can see, it is surprisingly cheap to set up your own online business! But, keeping it may take hard work. So, it is important to find a business that follows what your heart desires. 🙂

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